Sawmill



NOV. 12, 1946. G, LOCKE 2,410,887

SAWMILL Filed Oct. 26, 1 943 5 Sheets-Sheet l breng GhLOeI Nov. 12, 1946. H. G. LocKE 4 2,410,887.

SAWMILL Filed oct. 26,l 1945 .3 sheets-sheet 2 H. G. LocKE Nov. l2, 1946.

SAWMILL Filed 001'.. 26, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Nov. 12, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SAWMILL Henry G., Locke, Jasper, Ala.

Application October 26, 1943, Serial No. 507,692

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a saw mill especially adapted for cutting pulp wood of substantially tree length into predetermined log lengths for convenient handling in shipment, and has for the primary object the provision of a device of this character which will materially reduce the man power heretofore necessary in `cutting pulp wood and may be readily set up for operation within a forest and in the vicinity of the place where the trees are being felled.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a power operated device of the above stated character which will feed the logs in substantially tree length into position for sawing and move the predetermined cut lengths of wood to a conveyance for shipment, the cutting mechanism of the device being easily controlled by a person and its operation by said person also governs the non-movement of `the logs While the cutting operation takes place as well as operates the means forr preventing the sawfrombinding during the cutting operation.

With these and other objects in View as will become more apparent as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a top plan View illustrating a saw mill constructed in accordance' with my invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

.Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view illustrating the cutting mechanism and the means actuated thereby to prevent the saw of the cutting mechanism from binding during theY cutting operation.

Figure e is a fragmentary top plan view of the cutting mechanism and thepowerdrive therefor.

Figure 5. is` a fragmentary transverse sectional View of the journal or pivot for the cutting mechani'sm.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view showing a frictional drive and a clutching and declutching means therefor.

Figure 'l is a fragmentary plan view partly in section of the frictional drive.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral indicates a conveyor, constructed to feed logs in substantially tree length up to a cutting mechanism indicated generally by the character 6 and to convey the cut log sections after each cutting operation to an elevated chute 'I whence the log sections may gravitate into any suitable conveyance for transportation to a pulp mill for the making of paper or the like. It is preferable that the chute 'I be arranged so that its discharge end may be conveniently raised and lowered.

xThe conveyor 5 includes a horizontal portion A and an inclined portion B joining with each other with the inclined portion discharging into the chute l. Logs in tree length may be loaded onto the portion A in any well' known manner and caused to move as desired `to the cutting mechanism and after each cutting operation the log sections may pass onto the chute I by way of the inclinedportion B of the conveyor. The portion A of the conveyor includes spaced' rollers S each providedv with conical shaped portions to prevent a log from moving endwise ythereof and the shafts of said rollers are geared to a driven shaft 9 journaled in bearings III. The portion B of the conveyor includes spaced rollers II over which is trained a flexible element I2 carrying flights I3. The shaft of one of the rollers I'I eX- tends into the cutting mechanism andi's secured to a reduction gear mechanism I4 driven from a shaf t I5 through the use of an endless belt. The shaft I5 is driven by a power shaft l1 through the use of an endless belt I6.. The power shaft I'I is connected to a power source (not shown)- by'an endless belt I8.

The saw mechanism 6 includes a frame -9 of skeleton formation arranged laterally of the conveyor 5 and has the shafts I5 and I'I journaled thereon as well as providing a support for the reduction gear mechanism Ili. The power shaft I'I is supported by anti-friction type bearings 20. The shaft I'I also extends through sleeves 2| (Fig. 5) journaled in anti-friction bearings 22 on the frame I9 and the sleeves 2l" have connected thereto spaced parallel members 23 which go` to make up a counterbalanced and pi-votally mounted saw frame 23 provided with a control handle 24. The saw mandrel is journaled on one end of the saw frame 23 while the other end carries a coun-terbalanced weight. VA circula-r saw 25 is secured to the saw mandrel and may be swung upwardly and downwardly with relation to the portion A of the conveyor 5. The saw mandrel is connected to the shaft I'l by an endless belt 26.

The drive for the shaft 9 from the shaft I5 includes a friction type clutch 2'I consisting of discs 28 and 29. The shaft of the disc 29 is mounted in bearings 30 and 30a, the latter of which is pivotally mounted on the frame 6 While the former is slidably mounted thereon. The shaft of the disc 29 is connected to the shaft l5 by an endless belt 3|. The shaft of the disc 2'| is journaled in bearings on the frame 6 and is geared to the shaft 9. The slidable bearing 30 has pivotally connected thereto a lever 32 (Figures 3 and 6) pivoted on a support 33 carried by the frame I9. A control rod 34 is connected to the lever 32 and is located adjacent the lever 24 so that the operator may engage and disengage the disc 29 with the disc 28.

Thus it will be seen that the operator at any time desired may discontinue the drive to the rollers 8 for the purpose of stopping the movement of the logs supported by the rollers.

A suitable detent arrangement 35 (Figure 3) may be provided between the control lever 34 and the frame I9 for the purpose of releasably securing the control lever in position of engaging or disengaging the discs of the friction clutch.

A log stop 31 is slidably mounted on the conveyor where the portions A and B meet and has connected thereto a flexible element 38 (Figure 2) trained over a series of pulleys 39 on the frame I9 and is connected to the counterbalanced end of the saw frame so that whenever the saw is manually moved upwardly or in the direction of non-cutting a log, the stop lowers into the path of movement of the log to prevent further movement thereof by the conveyor until the cutting operation has been started thereon. If desired, the log stop may be adjusted endwise of the conveyor 5 in order that the logs may be cut into sections of different lengths.

A log lifting block 40 (Figure 3) is slidably mounted on the conveyor 5 adjacent to where the saw acts on the log and may be made to lift or elevate the log or that portion thereof being cut oi so as to prevent binding of the saw during the cutting operation. A lever 4| is pivotally connected to the log block 4i] and to the frame I9. A member 42 is slidably mounted on the frame |9 and is pivotally connected to the lever 4| and is arranged in the path of movement of the saw frame so that as the latter swings downwardly to bring the saw into engagement with the log, the block is caused to move upwardly, contacting the log and placing an upward pressure thereon. A foot pedal 43 is also pivotally connected to .the block 40 and lto the conveyor 5 and is preferably located adjacent the control lever so that the operator may manually move the log block 4U upwardly to increase its action on the log should the saw start to bind while making the cut in the log.

The saw frame having the weight on one end thereof will always assume a position when manually released of the saw blade being in its fullest uppermost position so that the conveyor can move a log under and past the saw blade. Also when the saw is in its uppermost position the log stop is in an elevated position. Whenever the operator wishes to cut the log into a selected length the saw blade is moved downwardly lowering `the gate so that the log when engaged therewith will be prevented from moving further under the influence of the conveyor. Further downward movement of the saw by .the operator brings the saw in cutting relation with the log and at the same time an upward pressure is being made on the log or the cut section thereof by the block 40 preventing the blade of the saw from binding with the log. On the completion of the cut in the logby the saw, the operator releases the handle of the saw frameand the weight elevates the saw blade which brings about lowering of the log stop so that the cut section may be moved by the conveyor onto the inclined chute and the next portion of the log be moved into position for cutting. Therefore, it will be seen that this device will permit one person to easily and rapidly cut logs into sections of desired length, the only other manual power that is needed in the operation of the device'being the feeding of the logs onto the rollers 8 of the conveyor. To facilitate this operation an inclined skid (not shown) may be arranged adjacent the portion A of the conveyor to assist the operator carrying out the last stated operation.

It is preferable that the rollers be fluted so as to readily bite into the log to assure itsmovement over the conveyor.

It is to be noted that all of the control means are located within easy reach of the operators station or position.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that minor changes in construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

In a saw mill, a conveyor construction including ahorizontal portion and an inclined portion connecting therewith, feed rollers journaled on the horizontal portion of the conveyor, a shaft geared to said rollers, an endless type conveyor mechanism carried by the inclined portion of the conveyor, a frame located adjacent the conveyor and extending laterally therefrom, a power shaft journaled on said frame, means for connecting and disconnecting .the power shaft to the rst named shaft, means for connecting the endless type conveyor mechanism to the power shaft, a saw frame journaled for pivotal movement on said power shaft, a saw on the saw frame, a drive means between the saw and the power shaft, counter balance means for the saw frame, and a vertically slidable log stop for controlling the movement of a log by the rollers and operated by the pivotal movement of the saw frame, and means comprising a lifting block located in the conveyor and in advance of the saw for exerting an upward pressure on a portion of the log when acted on by the saw and operated by the pivotal movement of the saw frame, in combination with a foot lever connected to said lifting block to augment the upward pressure on the log.

HENRY G. LOCKE. 

